PHILADELPHIA — Other than keeping the heavy eaters away from Primanti Brothers, who make those obscenely large, tasty and greasy sandwiches in downtown Pittsburgh, the Eagles biggest fear this weekend is Ben Roethlisberger.

No quarterback is better at turning a disastrous situation into a backbreaking play.

“He extends plays,” Andy Reid said of the 6-5, 241-pound Roethlisberger. “He’s very strong in the pocket and he has mobility. He always keeps his eyes down the field. He keeps every play alive. As a secondary player you better continue to cover your player until the play is history or he’s going to make you pay for it.”

The Eagles sacked Roethlisberger eight times when they last played. But that was five years ago. Trent Cole, who had one of the sacks, is the only Eagles defensive starter still around. The Eagles earned a 15-6 triumph over the Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field.

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“I remember they got after us and sacked me a bunch,” said Roethlisberger, one of just two Steelers offensive starters remaining from that contest. “It was a very frustrating game. I remember after that game going to one of my teammate’s houses and saying ‘I don’t know if I can do this much longer.’ They wreak havoc on you and they create a lot of issues.”

“But I believe that year ended up pretty good for us.”

That was the year the Steelers won the Super Bowl with a victory over the Cardinals, who beat the Eagles in the NFC title game.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin strenuously objects to using that result to project future results.

“Wow, boy that’s a long time ago,” Tomlin said. “I hadn’t even referred back to that game. So much has changed in the NFL over the course of five years in personnel and scheme and coaches and so forth. So that’s not one I’ve referenced at this point. So I really can’t speak to it.”

“I know that they had a great day of course. Particularly how they got after the passer.”

Rest assured the Eagles will study the game tape. The late Jim Johnson concocted the scheme enabling the Eagles to surround and crush Roethlisberger.

At the same time Roethlisberger is five years wiser. Though the Steelers come out of their bye week with a disappointing 1-2 record, Roethlisberger has completed 68.3 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. He’s averaging 7.53 yards per pass attempt compared to 7.39 for Eagles counterpart Michael Vick.

Unlike the smaller Vick, it’s not enough to put a big hit on Roethlisberger.

“For us up front it’s about getting him down,” Eagles defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins said. “You can’t get to him and whiff. If you get to him you’ve got to make sure you get him wrapped up. Just try to pin his arms down, keep him from throwing the ball. He can still stand in there while you’re on him and still make a pass and make big plays.”

Roethlisberger is almost as pained this year by nine sacks as he is trying to dig himself and his teammates out of their horrific start. To Big Ben, there’s little difference between giving up a sack and losing.

“I have no intention of ever trying to extend a play,” Roethlisberger said. “Usually it just happens that way. I think it comes from not ever wanting to quit. I hate to quit on a play or my team or anything like that. I just don’t want to give up and take the sack. I always want to fight for extra yards, fight for extra plays. I think sometimes it can demoralize a defense when you fight through a sack or on third-and-long you extend the play and get the first down. That’s tough on a defense. To me it just comes from never wanting to quit.”

Roethlisberger won’t be nearly as pressed to extend plays if running back Rashard Mendenhall can provide a lift. He’s slated to see his first game action after ACL surgery last January.

The Steelers run game has been wretched, with the backs averaging 2.6 yards a carry you wonder why they even bother.

With a week to heal and recharge, however, the Steelers figure to have more than enough energy to play smash-mouth this Sunday.

“It’s a pretty complete offense,” Jenkins said. “The big thing is to keep the run stopped, try to get them into longer down-and-distances and then just keep Ben from extending plays.”

Like saying no to one of those decadent sandwiches loaded with beef, cheese, cole slaw and fries, it’s easier said than done.